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(No Model.) 7

W. E. HOLMES. LIFE SAVING DEVICE 0R FENDER.

No. 495,632. Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

WILLIAM E. HOLMES, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOLEMUEL E. DEMELMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

LIFE-SAVING DEVICE OR FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,632, dated April18, 18 93.

Application filed January 24, 1893- Serial No. 459,519. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. HOLMES, acitizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county ofSuffolk, in the State of 5 Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Life-Saving Devices or Fenders for Electric or otherStreet Cars, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescriptiomreference being had to the accom- I panyin g drawings,forming a part of this specification in explaining its nature.

It is desirable in my opinion that alife-saving fender should be simplein construction, and organized to yield somewhat when brought r intocontact with a body or obstruction; while at the same time its loweredge is maintained in contact with the pavement in such a way that itcannot ride over the obstructing body, and my invention is designed toembody these :0 requirements in a practical form.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a view of the portion of a cartruck with my fender attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a view of the sameparts, without the wheel, representing 2 5 the fender when brought intocontact with an obstruction like the body of a child or adult. Fig. 3 isa detail view in front elevation. Fig. 4, is a View of the completefender in front elevation.

The fender is represented as applied to the truck-frame, in which eventit would be beneath the body of the car. It need not, however, beapplied to the frame, as it can be attached to the frame work or sillsof the car,

3 5 either beneath the car body or to project in front of the dasher ofthe car. Of course,

where necessary there is a separate fender at each end of the car.

The fender comprises a frame A, consisting of the curved bars a a at oneend of the frame and the curved bars a a at the other end. These barsare connected at their upper ends by the horizontal bar a and at theirlower end by a bar a and this frame carries a netting B, of wire orcord, or any suitable material.

The frame is curved downward from its up per end in a forward direction,as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, the lower section extendingconsiderably in advance of the upper part, when in the positionrepresented in Fig. 1. The lower bar a preferably carries short bristlesof any suitable material upon its outward and under surfaces, the barpreferably being rounded upon such surfaces. This frame-work or fendersection is attached to 5 5 the truck frame 0, by the relatively shortlinks 0, the frame being jointed or hinged at c to the forward ends ofthe links, and the links being hinged or jointed at c to the arms orpieces a which are bolted to the truck frame. The hinges permit theframe to yield backwardly and to a limited extent upwardly, see Fig. 2,the links being ofconrse lifted with the frame. This movement is inopposition to the springs cl which act to hold the fender frame in theposition represented in Fig. 1, and to resist its yielding movement, andthe springs (1' act to move downward the links 0 and maintain them inthe depressed position, and act to resist their upward movement so thatthe fender is maintained in normal position bythe action of the springsd d and when brought into contact with any body or movable obstructionthey permit the backward and upward yielding of the fender frame, whileat the same time they resist such movement. The extent of the backwardmovement of the frame is limited by the stop bar 6, see Fig. 2, and theextent of the forward movement of the frame is limited by the chain ewhich is fastened to the frame at its forward end, and at its rear endto the piece 0 It will be understood that the fender may be normallycarried above the track and pavement and may be depressed automaticallyor otherwise to the position represented in Fig.

1. But I do not herein claim mechanism for providing it with suchmovement, such devices being already well known.

The action of the combined forces or parts of the device hereinspecified is such as to probably cause an object, such as a human body,to be yieldingly received by the fender and carried along safely untilthe car can be stopped and the body removed; and it will in 5 any eventgreatly lessen the chances of injury to the body struck, by giving ayielding rather than a rigidblow, due to the yielding back of the fenderafter striking the body, and it would positively prevent the bodypassing un- [00 derneath the fender of the wheel.

It will be observed that the device is very simple, can be cheaply made,and that it can be attached to the car without making any change in itsconstruction.

I would say that any mechanical equivalent for the jointed parts, whichI have called links, may be employed; also that the bristles may beeither carried by the lower bar of the fender frame or by a separateWooden or other bar to which they are secured, and which would beattached to the lower edge of the frame. While I prefer that the loweredge of the fender be thus provided with a resilient yielding substanceor material like bristles, yet I do not confine myself to this use inconnection with the fender, although I prefer to employ there somethingthat shall have the yielding effect of a cushion, and at the same timeprevent anything from riding under the lower bar.

While I have indicated the stops in the fender as provided by a chainand stop bar, yet any mechanical equivalent that shall restrain or limitthe extent of the movement of the fender frame in both directions may beem ployed.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim, and desire to securebyLetters Patent of the United States- 1. A life saving device or fenderfor electric or other cars, comprising a fender frame or sectionattached to the car truck or frame by a double jointed or hingedconnection arranged to yield backwardly and upwardly against resistingspring pressure, as and for the purposes described.

2. A fender for electric and other cars comprising a fender section, andthelinks c hinged at their forward ends to the upper edge'of the fendersection, and at their rear ends to the track or car frame, the springs61 acting upon the fender section as described, and the spring (1 actingupon the links a, as specified, all as and for the purposes described.

3. In a fender for electric and other cars, the fender section or framecurved as specified, and having the cross-piece or bar at its lower edgearmed with bristles, the connecting links 0, hinged to the fendersection and truck or car frame, as specified, the springs 61 d and stopsforlimiting the extent of movement of the fender, as and for thepurposes described.

WILLIAM E. HOLMES. WVitnesses: F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, J. M. DOLAN.

